Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 27
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
यजुर्वेदतरोः शाखाः सप्तविंशन्महामतिः वैशम्पायननामासौ व्यासशिष्यश् चकार वै
yajurvedataroḥ śākhāḥ saptaviṃśanmahāmatiḥ vaiśampāyananāmāsau vyāsaśiṣyaś cakāra vai
The great-souled Vaiśampāyana—disciple of Vyāsa—indeed established twenty-seven branches (śākhās) of the tree of the Yajurveda.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Mapping Vedic śākhā-lineages for correct śruti recitation, ritual adherence, and guru-śiṣya transmission authentication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yajurveda-Śākhāsaṅkhyā and Vaiśampāyana’s Recensions","lookup_keywords":["Yajurveda","śākhā","Vaiśampāyana","Vyāsa-śiṣya","saptaviṃśati"],"quick_summary":"Attributes the organization of Yajurveda recensions to Vaiśampāyana, stating a canonical count of twenty-seven śākhās; useful for paramparā and śruti-adhyayan classification."}
Concept: Śruti is preserved through structured recensional branching (śākhā) under authoritative teachers.
Application: Use śākhā-identity to determine correct saṃhitā/pāṭha, prayoga, and ritual variants in Vedic practice.
Khanda Section: Veda-Shakha-Vyavastha (Vedic Recensional Traditions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vyāsa’s disciple Vaiśampāyana seated as an ācārya, with palm-leaf manuscripts and students arranged in groups symbolizing twenty-seven Yajurveda branches, depicted as a flourishing tree with labeled limbs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, Vaiśampāyana as serene guru under a stylized Veda-tree with 27 branching limbs, rows of brahmacārins holding palm-leaf granthas, traditional ornaments, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Vaiśampāyana enthroned with halo, gold-leaf highlights on manuscripts and the Veda-tree canopy, 27 small branch medallions around, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional tableau: guru pointing to a diagrammatic Veda-tree labeled with 27 śākhās, students taking notes on palm leaves, soft shading and muted colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholarly scene in a garden: Vaiśampāyana teaching, a tree with 27 tagged branches, attendants with manuscripts, fine textile detail, architectural pavilion backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्तविंशन्महामतिः → सप्तविंशतिः + महामतिः; वैशम्पायननामासौ → वैशम्पायननाम + असौ; व्यासशिष्यश् चकार → व्यासशिष्यः + चकार (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 150.28; Agni Purana 150.29; Agni Purana 150.30; Agni Purana 150.31
FAQs
It conveys Veda-śākhā-vyavasthā: the organized transmission and diversification of the Yajurveda into 27 recensional branches, establishing authoritative lineages for ritual recitation and application.
By cataloging Vedic lineages (Vyāsa → Vaiśampāyana) and enumerating śākhās, it functions like a knowledge index—preserving historical-textual data alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences typical of the Agni Purana’s wide scope.
Honoring authentic guru-paramparā and śākhā-based preservation is presented as safeguarding śruti; maintaining correct Vedic transmission supports purity of ritual practice and is traditionally linked with religious merit (puṇya) through upholding dharma.